Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Himmatwala...Twisted

Saturday afternoon and it is drizzling outside. The
weather is almost perfect for some Adrak chai and onion bhajjis. Sanju is
waiting for Rachel to arrive and so will have a company to enjoy some chai and
bhajjis. Sanju (Sanjay Kamat) is born and brought up in Bombay aka Mumbai and
is in London for last 3 years. He is passionate about Art and Drama. His love
and passion drove him to London where he met Rachel; a sweet, smart girl who is
passionate about Arts and Drama. She is down to earth and never gives those
looks to anyone..the typical of looks of being a Londoner and I know
everything! Well moving ahead, Sanju and Rachel have a project to submit about ‘Does
Bollywood represents India?’ Sanju is shortlisting the recent releases and will
offer Rachel a choice to pick a movie today. Looking at the clock, he picks up
his I-phone to call up Rachel but suddenly rings the intercom. It is Rachel who
is waiting down and Sanju lets her in. They greet each other she questions, “Which
movie today? I am in a mood to watch a masala movie today!” Sanju is surprised
to learn that Rachel is aware of the term ‘Masala Movie’. She looks at him and
says, “Everything from India has to be about Masala – after all Indian Spices
are so famous”…and then they heartily laugh.

Quickly Sanju prepares some Adrak Chai and opens
a pack of half fried, frozen Onion Bhajjis. Shoves them in the oven and asks
Rachel to pick up a movie. Going through the list, she is struck at the poster
pic of ‘Himmatwala – Ajay Devgn and Tamanna starrer’. She declares I want to
watch this movie – it is a Masala movie. Sanju is straining the hot, steamy, flavour
Adrak Chai into the mugs and listening to her choice he can’t help saying ‘S*%$!!’.
He quickly gets the tea and Bhajjis, he is no more interested in having them
while watching a flop buster but he can’t deny either. Finally with their pen
and notepads to make notes about the movie they watch. Rachel is super excited
to watch it and she is in complete awe of Adrak Chai and Onion Bhajjis..it is still
drizzling outside.With their earphones
they start the movie.

Sanju’s notes in brief:

I have no memories of the 1983's Himmatwala but
this remake with Ajay Devgn is definitely the worst, pathetic. Everyone who has
watched this movie should be awarded for their bravery, tolerance, ignorance
and patience. I really don't know why I even agreed to watch this movie but I
am regretting this decision of mine. Bollywood produces the maximum number of
movies in the entertainment sector around the world but why don't they have a
quality check? I felt so very sad for Sajid Khan and I very well know how it
must have felt to be a director of such a disgusting outcome. Super solid
star-cast, super sexy Heroine, Super star Hero one expects a blockbuster but
this was like 'Khoda Pahad and Nikla Chuha'. Well let me stop criticising the
movie now, I know how much the entire team must be repenting by being a part of
it and I pay my condolences to the entire team and to the viewers (like me) who
are disappointed, hurt after watching this ERROTIC movie!!

Sanju was very sure that Rachel too is gonna
regret watching this movie. More than that he was concerned what would Rachel’s
opinion be about Bollywood? Will she write it off as too melodramatic to be
digested? Will she favour Hollywood over Bollywood? Will she think that
Bollywood is rubbish, glittery and backward which means is India –Indian cinema
is backward?

Rachel is a sensible girl. She lives on her own
and her parents separated when she was 7. She sometimes lived with her Father
and his girlfriend while sometimes with her Mum & her Mum’s husband. She
loves Bollywood as it shows so much of togetherness, warmth and culture.

Rachel’s notes in brief:

Every coin has 2 sides and so does every movie!
Let us take a note of the positive impact it had on me....I know it needs
patience and I can guarantee that you too will enjoy reading this and if you
don't then do watch Himmatwala....you won't agree more that reading my post is
thousand times better than watching that movie.

This movie falls in the genre of drama packed
with emotions. I yet learning about genres but at least this was a family drama
for me. After pushing my limits I could foresee something which was human,
real, earthy and very Indian. Whether the movie does a good business or does it
enter the 100 crore club is another matter but to me this movie certainly
showed that there still is humanity amongst fellow Indians irrespective of any
caste and creed.

1) Movie opens with a fighting scene. Definitely
Hero has to win (same in Bolly and Holly) proving that one who is portrayed strong
doesn't always win but an honest man with right attitude and heart full love (jigar)
can do anything and everything impossible. Somewhere in the movie the Hero takes
over the Tiger and the later runs for his life....Bravo Hero!

2) Even today there prevails a relation known as
friendship wherein there are no vested interests. It is a pure emotion and they
are soul mates, brothers. The use and throw attitude hasn't crept in yet. India
still cherishes relationships. I am so touched to see the daughter and mother duo who are very poor but yet live together fighting the odds.

3) Your friend’s family is your family. Where
would you find this? In true sense people disown their poor, disabled parents
but this movie still gives me a message which is praise worthy. India is about
caring, loving everyone equally.

4) Your true friend loves you selflessly. His
happiness is yours and your sorrows are his. He is never interested in your
bank balance but always wants to treasure your dreams. You dream and he
achieves.

5) Indians are still very emotional and have
sentiments for their cultural beliefs. I appreciated the Raksha Bandhan scene
in the movie where a brother is happily ready to protect her sister from all
evil. Glad that there still is lot of depth, respect, affection and purity in
this relation. We in the western world need Mother’s day, Father’s day to spend
together.

6) The highlight point according to me was the
punishment the Hero gives to the goons (Gundas) who attempts rape on the hero's
sister. He truly abides by the rules of Rakhi. It is high time that the society
should start punishing such morons who have made life miserable and impossible
for the Women in the Indian society. Women in the Indian society needs more respect
and there should be more work done for women empowerment. I didn’t like the way
the women is tortured.

7) Opposites attract and spoilt Heroine falls in
love with the Hero against her father's wish. All of a sudden this girl
transforms to well behaved, fully clad- wearing very Indian attires from a
boisterous, sexy girl with skimpy clothes. This yet proves a woman loves to
give up everything for someone she loves and there is something known as LOVE
which compels one to leave the wrong for right, teaches to accept your faults
and improve them which is what the Heroine does.

8) An Indian father is worried about his
unmarried daughter who is pregnant. The day when a girl is born in a family,
constantly the parents are worried about her secure future. To me this is so
touching. I wish if the parents here would be a little protective about their
kids.

9) Coming to the end of the movie...the director
has touched to the core belief in god or rather goddess...Mata Sherawali. This
point is no fun as Indians heavily rely on God/Goddess. She sends her tiger to
rescue the Hero from the goons very much proving that the good kills the evil. We
have lost the faith and have moved to practicality but the Indians haven’t!

10) Last and not the least...All is well that
Ends well. Hero takes over the village as a Chief which again shows that good
defeats evil. All iz Well.

Rachel’s view: Yes the Bollywood represents India
in the above mentioned ways. I haven’t ever been to India but this movie gives me
a strong message that what India is to the world. I only request the Indians –
not to change the way they are, don’t be plastic and over practical because
they are the mascots for Humanity!

Sanju is absolutely stunned and speechless after
reading Rachel’s notes and so am I!

Trupti’s take:

So, friends I hope you enjoyed a different
perspective of this superduper flop movie Himmatwala. I strongly believe in one
thing, you can learn from anything and everything. Nothing is a waste....watching
a sci-fi movie is altogether a different experience but watching a rustic,
earthy hindi movie too is necessary. It keeps you grounded, brings you back to
the reality and reminds you of who you are and what you are. I finally take
this opportunity to thank Director Sajid Khan for making such a wonderful
masterpiece and also to Rachel for her precious notes....sigh!

4 comments:

How come nobody commented on this post of yours? A superb review of what Indians term as "masala movie". I may not watch the movie, but, perceiving through a girl's eyes who has never been to India lets me be more humble about being an Indian.

Thanks again Nivedita...at times it needs more patience to read through.After all our Indian movies are still very much influenced by our customs, values and I still believe in them...this is what I think. The pageviews for this blog are lesser than others...but trust me after I wrote it I really loved reading it...:)